Machu Picchu

May 15 2025

Finally made it up to Machu Picchu today. I’m going to be the person who says the unpopular opinion – this place is overhyped and pretty disappointing. Why you ask? Pictures speak 1,000 words:

There, I just saved everyone the trouble of having to go there and push their way through 800 people live-streaming on instatwittokbooktube about what a profound experience it is.

It instantly made every other Incan site I’ve visited more impressive. And I’m pretty sure it only has the fame it does thanks to Yale University giving it massive international PR after they had Hiram Bingham rob the place. And I’m still bemused that even down here the history books are essentially written “[big print] Hiram Bingham discovered Machu Picchu! [small print] … after being given a tour by the family that was living there.”

Once upon a time, many years ago, you could free-roam the site. That would’ve been cool, I think. In an effort to combat overcrowding the government created three different “circuits” that only gave you access to a specific part of the site for an hour. Last summer they apparently took that a step farther, shortened the circuits, and made more of them. There are now 12 circuits. Mind you, a ticket is $45 per circuit. Which is already a ripoff when you consider that’s the same price as the Cusco boleto touristico, which gives you a week of access to a dozen sites and museums, some of which are actually way more impressive than Machu Picchu.

But, it’s been visited. And now I know I never need to come back here. (Would definitely visit Peru again an explore more of the sacred valley though, and the Incan sites south of Cusco that nobody goes to because it’s in the opposite direction from Machu Picchu. THAT would be absolutely a worthwhile trip).

All gripes about the Machu Picchu site itself aside, the hike back down to Aguas Calientes actually wasn’t bad. I only saw two other people the entire time, and it was a pretty climb down through the jungle.